Kyiv, 12 August (H.S.): Ukrainian authorities have accused Russia of using North Korean-supplied ballistic missiles in a deadly overnight barrage that killed at least 10 people across Ukraine and wounded dozens more.

The southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia bore the brunt of the latest attacks, with seven employees of the Zaporizhstal steel plant killed and 21 others injured, according to Ukrainian officials. President Volodymyr Zelensky said the city was targeted with North Korean ballistic missiles, along with other Russian weapons.

According to Ukrainian authorities, the victims were employees of the steel plant who were attempting to reach shelters after an air-raid warning was issued. The attack also caused significant damage and disrupted operations at the facility.

The overnight strikes were reported across several Ukrainian regions. Three more people were killed in the neighbouring Dnipropetrovsk region, while attacks on Kherson and Kharkiv caused power outages. In Kyiv, an infectious diseases hospital was reportedly hit, while a children's hospital sustained damage to its windows and surrounding areas. Ukrainian authorities said no children or medical staff were injured at the children's facility because they had taken shelter.

Russia's Defence Ministry said its forces had carried out a large-scale strike using precision weapons against military-industrial and transport-logistics facilities in Kyiv and Zaporizhzhia. Moscow has not acknowledged Ukraine's allegation that North Korean ballistic missiles were used in the attack.

Zelensky Warns of Growing Russia-North Korea Military Ties

The latest accusation comes as Zelensky has repeatedly warned that military cooperation between Russia and North Korea is expanding. He recently claimed that Moscow had received additional ballistic missiles from Pyongyang and alleged that a decision had been made to deploy between 30,000 and 50,000 North Koreans in Russia. Kyiv has not publicly provided evidence or a specific timeframe for the reported deployment.

Russia and North Korea signed a mutual defence pact in 2024, and North Korean troops were subsequently deployed to support Russian forces during fighting in Russia's Kursk region. Western, Ukrainian and South Korean officials have also repeatedly accused Pyongyang of supplying weapons to Russia.

South Korea has said it is closely monitoring the situation, with its Foreign Ministry describing military cooperation between North Korea and Russia as a direct security concern and a potential violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions.

The intensifying military partnership has raised concerns in Kyiv and among its allies, particularly as Russia has increased its use of ballistic missiles in recent weeks. Such weapons are difficult to intercept, and Ukraine has repeatedly called for additional air-defence systems and interceptors.

Ukraine has also stepped up long-range drone strikes against targets inside Russia, including energy infrastructure and logistics facilities, as Kyiv seeks to disrupt Moscow's military supply chains and revenue sources.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar